Name: Butler Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center - Springfield
Address: Springfield, IL

Mrs.  Mertz  was my daughter's great grandmother.  We did not realize she passed away.
Carol, David, and to all the family. Grandma Mertz was a blessing and will be missed.

Dear Mertz family,

An online article from today estimates there are 100,000 Americans alive over the age of 100.  With the passing of Marie, that figure has decreased by one.

But Marie was much more than a mere statistic.  She was born at the beginning of the Roaring 20s, experienced the Great Depression as a young girl, married her dear Frank shortly after Pearl Harbor, and witnessed all the innumerable historical events since then.      

It is a travesty that no one did an oral history of Marie's life.  Think of all the wisdom, vivid memories, unique viewpoints and other recollections she could have shared with others.  Marie and other centenarians are slipping through the fingers of history with no trace they were here except in the fond remembrances of their loved ones.  What a pity!   

I had the honor and privilege of playing in the Springfield Municipal Band with Frank for many years and in the Charlie Rogers Orchestra on occasion.  Frank was a fine musician and loved his music, his saxophone and clarinet.  And he cherished his roses so dearly.  But most of all, he adored and treasured Marie.  She was often in the audience at Douglas Park to hear the City Band concerts.

It is amazing that Marie was married to the same man for over 66 years.  But when that man was Frank Mertz, the mystery is solved.  It must have taken tremendous understanding, trust, compromise, patience, wisdom and above all awe-inspiring love to remain with each other through good and challenging times. 

I salute Frank for his proud service in the U.S. Army Air Forces.  Both Marie and Frank were faithful Christians, virtuous and 
unselfish citizens, and devoted parents and grandparents.  They leave behind them an outstanding family.  Frank and Marie's generation was called the "Greatest" for a reason. 

May God bless Marie, Frank and your family now and always.  Sleep in peace, Frank and Marie, and Godspeed.

With love and respect,

John Headrick
Springfield, IL

I am sending condolences to Evelyn's family and especially to my friend  Mary Ann. I am sorry to hear about Evelyn's death. She was a wonderful person and a friend to our family for many years. I know she will be missed.

To Family...I met Evelyn in the "salad days" of my introduction to Sangamon County politics in the early 1970's.  Blessings on you.

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Evelyn is survived by her son, Frank L. Mertz; daughters, Mary Ann Lepper, Sharon Elaine Dolan, and Carol Lynn (David) Foltz; sister, Donna Jean Fletcher; grandchildren, Evan Bolt, Julie and Scott Lepper, Jimmy and Barry Dolan, Chris and Michelle Napier, and Cecelia Foltz; great-grandchildren, Anie Buchanan, Jacob, Avery, and Olivia Dolan, and Bree Bledsoe; and several nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Susan Ellen Mertz; sisters, Betty Viele, Mildred Zattich, and Mary Elaine McManus; and brother, William Ramey; two grandchildren: Eric Mertz and Courtney Martin.

OBITUARY

Evelyn Marie Mertz

November 1, 1921 – November 12, 2023

Butler Funeral Home & Cremation Tribute Center-Springfield

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